Uniform Spreading Control System

This application claims the benefit of filing date of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 63/568,556, entitled “UNIFORM SPREADING CONTROL METHOD” filed Mar. 22, 2024 under 35 USC § 119(e)1.

The present invention relates to a uniform spreading control system and method, applicable to a vehicle, and let the vehicle to spread a material uniformly on the ground or any specific place.

There may be a demand to spread (or generally, distribute) a certain material on the ground, for example, to spread seeds on a farmland, to spread concrete on a construction site, to spread asphalt on a road, to spread salt on a snowfield, but not limited thereto. In general, the material may be in form of powder, granule, liquid, colloid, semi-solid, and so on, but not limited thereto. It is desired that the spreading can be performed in a uniform way so that the material can be uniformly presented on the ground.

The spreading is typically performed by a vehicle equipped with a material spreader, wherein the vehicle may be a truck, a tractor, a trailer, a train, a car, and so on, but not limited thereto. The spreading uniformity typically depends on the vehicle speed. For example, when the vehicle goes faster, the spreading shall be performed faster accordingly, so as to sufficiently fill up the space on the ground. On the contrary, when the vehicle goes slower, the spreading shall be performed slower accordingly, so as to avoid material accumulation. Accordingly, it is typical to set the spreading speed of the material spreader to be proportional to the vehicle speed.

To implement such proportional relationship between the spreading speed and the vehicle speed, a signal may be generated based on the vehicle speed and is then send to the material spreader to control the spreading speed.

However, if the vehicle speed becomes an ultra-low vehicle speed, the signal generated based on the ultra-low vehicle speed may be too weak to trigger (or drive) the material spreader. Therefore, one technical problem concerned and to be solved by the present invention is to achieve uniform spreading under an ultra-low vehicle speed.

Another technical problem may occur during the spreading is that the vehicle drives in different speeds or frequently stops and goes, which results in non-uniform spreading, and in turn causes the material to non-uniformly accumulate on the ground. This problem is also concerned and to be solve by the present invention.

Therefore, it is desirable to provide a novel and inventive uniform spreading control system and method to mitigate and/or obviate the aforementioned problems.

In order to achieve uniform spreading under an ultra-low vehicle speed, the present invention provides a uniform spreading control system and a related method based on an “ultra-low speed pulsation mode” (also called a “burst control mode”), capable of dealing with material spreading under an ultra-low vehicle speed which the prior art cannot deal with, being released from the constraint in the prior art.

In particular, as previously mentioned, if the vehicle speed becomes an ultra-low vehicle speed, the signal generated based on the vehicle speed may be too weak to trigger the material spreading device. However, the present invention can generate a special signal based on the ultra-low vehicle speed, which can still trigger the material spreading device, and thus the present invention allows to spread a tinier amount of material than the prior art does.

According to a first aspect, the present invention provides a uniform spreading control system, including a control module, which includes a basic controller and a uniform spreading controller, and connected to a vehicle speed detector, a material transferring device, and a material spreading device. The uniform spreading controller is configured to obtain a vehicle speed from the vehicle speed detector, and control a material transferring speed of the material transferring device and/or a material spreading speed of the material spreading device. The uniform spreading controller is configured to enable an ultra-low speed pulsation mode when the vehicle speed is lower than a vehicle speed lower limit.

Optionally, or preferably, the vehicle speed detector includes an acceleration detector (G-sensor), a mechanical tachometer, and/or an on-board diagnostic (OBD).

Optionally, or preferably, the control module is further connected to a control panel adapted to be operated by a user.

Optionally, or preferably, the uniform spreading controller is configured to receive externally or store internally one or more dose supply reference values, perform an average algorithm according to the one or more dose supply reference values, and control the material transferring speed of the material transferring device and/or the material spreading speed of the material spreading device according to a result from the average algorithm.

Optionally, or preferably, the material transferring device is a belt conveyor, a screw conveyor, or a feeder. The material spreading device is a material throwing rotating disc, a material throwing round disc, a spreading rotating disc, or a spreader.

Optionally, or preferably, the material transferring device includes a first motor and a first power supply, and the uniform spreading controller is configured to control a first power of the first power supply, so as to control a first rotational speed of the first motor, thereby controlling the material transferring speed of the material transferring device. Similarly, the material spreading device includes a second motor and a second power supply or variable-frequency drive, and the uniform spreading controller is configured to control a second power of the second power supply or variable-frequency drive, so as to control a second rotational speed of the second motor, thereby controlling the material spreading speed of the material spreading device.

Optionally, or preferably, the material transferring speed of the material transferring device and/or the material spreading speed of the material spreading device is fed back to the uniform spreading controller.

Optionally, or preferably, in the ultra-low speed pulsation mode, the uniform spreading controller is configured to control the material transferring speed of the material transferring device and/or the material spreading speed of the material spreading device by wave-enveloped pulse train.

Optionally, or preferably, the uniform spreading controller includes a wave-enveloped pulse train generation circuit, the wave-enveloped pulse train generation circuit includes a pulse-width modulation (PWM) timer and a burst timer, the PWM timer is configured to receive pulse train, the burst timer is configured to receive an envelope signal, and the wave-enveloped pulse train generation circuit is configured to perform logic AND operation on the pulse train and the envelope signal, and output the wave-enveloped pulse train.

Optionally, or preferably, the logic AND operation is implemented by a gating control pin that connects the burst timer to the PWM timer, or implemented by a logic AND gate that is connected to the PWM timer and the burst timer.

Optionally, or preferably, the vehicle speed lower limit corresponds to an original material transferring speed lower limit of the material transferring device and/or an original material spreading speed lower limit of the material spreading device.

Optionally, or preferably, the wave-enveloped pulse train is defined with a complete period (T), and the complete period (T) includes a pulse train existing period (Te) and a pulse train non-existing period (Ti). A ratio (Te/T) of the pulse train existing period (Te) to the complete period (T) determines a further reduced material transferring speed lower limit (VL30f), equal to the original material transferring speed lower limit times the ratio [VL30i×(Te/T)] and/or a further reduced material spreading speed lower limit (VL40f), equal to the original material spreading speed lower limit times the ratio [VL40i×(Te/T)].

Optionally, or preferably, the vehicle speed lower limit is 10 miles per hour, 8 miles per hour, 6 miles per hour, 4 miles per hour, or 2 miles per hour.

Optionally, or preferably, the ultra-low speed pulsation mode includes a plurality of sub ultra-low speed pulsation modes, and the sub ultra-low speed pulsation modes include a first sub ultra-low speed pulsation mode and a second sub ultra-low speed pulsation mode. In the first sub ultra-low speed pulsation mode, the vehicle speed is between the vehicle speed lower limit and a first vehicle speed lower limit, and the uniform spreading controller is configured to control the material transferring speed of the material transferring device and/or the material spreading speed of the material spreading device by first wave-enveloped pulse train. In the second sub ultra-low speed pulsation mode, the vehicle speed is between the first vehicle speed lower limit and a second vehicle speed lower limit, and the uniform spreading controller is configured to control the material transferring speed of the material transferring device and/or the material spreading speed of the material spreading device by second wave-enveloped pulse train. Herein, it can be understood that, more sub ultra-low speed pulsation modes may be implemented by extending the concept from the first sub ultra-low speed pulsation mode and the second sub ultra-low speed pulsation mode.

On the other hand, in order to achieve uniform spreading under a situation where the vehicle frequently stops and goes, which has highly possibility to cause non-uniform material accumulation, the present invention also provides a solution, that is, to set a time difference between the operating time of the material spreading device and the operating time of the material transferring device at the moment the vehicle starts or stops, so as to avoid material accumulation on the material spreading device itself and spreading non-uniformity on the ground.

According to a second aspect, the present invention provides a uniform spreading control system, including a control module, which includes a basic controller and a uniform spreading controller, and connected to a vehicle speed detector, a material transferring device, and a material spreading device. The uniform spreading controller is configured to obtain a vehicle speed from the vehicle speed detector, and control a material transferring speed of the material transferring device and/or a material spreading speed of the material spreading device. A first start time of the material transferring device is later than a second start time of the material spreading device.

Optionally, or preferably, a first stop time of the material transferring device is earlier than a second stop time of the material spreading device.

Optionally, or preferably, there exists a first time difference between the first start time of the material transferring device and the second start time of the material spreading device. Similarly, there exists a second time difference between the first stop time of the material transferring device and the second stop time of the material spreading device.

Optionally, or preferably, the first time difference and/or the second time difference is a fixed value, equal to 0.5 seconds, 1 second, 1.5 seconds, or a variable value, varying between 0.5 seconds and 1.5 seconds.

Optionally, or preferably, the uniform spreading controller is configured to, when the vehicle speed is higher than a start basic vehicle speed, start the material spreading device first, and then after the first time difference elapses, start the material transferring device. Similarly, the uniform spreading controller is configured to, when the vehicle speed is lower than a stop basic vehicle speed, stop the material transferring device first, and then after the second time difference elapses, stop the material spreading device.

Optionally, or preferably, the control module is connected to a material spreading device detector, and the control module is configured to, before the material spreading device is activated, if the material spreading device detector detects that the material spreading device remains any residual material, then activate the material spreading device to remove or spread the residual material.

It can be understood that, the first aspect and the second aspect may be combined with each other. The optional or preferably features in the first aspect may be applied to the second aspect if suitable and with necessary modification. Similarly, the optional or preferably features in the second aspect may be applied to the first aspect if suitable and with necessary modification.

Other aspects, novel features, and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

Different embodiments of the present invention are provided in the following description. These embodiments are meant to explain the technical content of the present invention, but not meant to limit the scope of the present invention. A feature described in an embodiment may be applied to other embodiments by suitable modification, substitution, combination, or separation.

It should be noted that, in the present specification, when a component is described to have an element, it means that the component may have one or more such elements, and it does not mean that the component has only one such element, except otherwise specified.

Moreover, in the present specification, the ordinal numbers, such as “first” or “second”, are used to distinguish a plurality of elements having the same name, and it does not mean that there is essentially a level, a rank, an executing order, or a manufacturing order among the elements, except otherwise specified. A “first” element and a “second” element may exist together in the same component, or alternatively, they may exist in different components, respectively. The existence of an element described) by a greater ordinal number does not essentially mean the existent of another element described by a smaller ordinal number.

Moreover, in the present specification, when an element is described to be arranged “on” another element, it does not essentially mean that the elements contact the other element, except otherwise specified. Such interpretation is applied to other cases similar to the case of “on”.

Moreover, in the present specification, the terms, such as “preferably” or “advantageously”, are used to describe an optional or additional element or feature, and in other words, the element or the feature is not an essential element, and may be ignored in some embodiments.

Moreover, in the present specification, when an element is described to be “suitable for” or “adapted to” another element, the other element is an example or a reference helpful in imagination of properties or applications of the element, and the other element is not to be considered to form a part of a claimed subject matter; similarly, except otherwise specified; similarly, in the present specification, when an element is described to be “suitable for” or “adapted to” a configuration or an action, the description is made to focus on properties or applications of the element, and it does not essentially mean that the configuration has been set or the action has been performed, except otherwise specified.

Moreover, each component may be realized as a single circuit or an integrated circuit in suitable ways, and may include one or more active elements, such as transistors or logic gates, or one or more passive elements, such as resistors, capacitors, or inductors, but not limited thereto. Each component may be connected to each other in suitable ways, for example, by using one or more traces to form series connection or parallel connection, especially to satisfy the requirements of input terminal and output terminal. Furthermore, each component may allow transmitting or receiving input signals or output signals in sequence or in parallel. The aforementioned configurations may be realized depending on practical applications.

Moreover, in the present specification, the terms, such as “system”, “apparatus”, “device”, “module”, or “unit”, refer to an electronic element, or a digital circuit, an analogous circuit, or other general circuit, composed of a plurality of electronic elements, and there is not essentially a level or a rank among the aforementioned terms, except otherwise specified.

Moreover, in the present specification, two elements may be electrically connected to each other directly or indirectly, except otherwise specified. In an indirect connection, one or more elements, such as resistors, capacitors, or inductors may exist between the two elements. The electrical connection is used to send one or more signals, such as DC or AC currents or voltages, depending on practical applications.

Moreover, in the present specification, a value may be interpreted to cover a range within ±10% of the value, and in particular, a range within ±5% of the value, except otherwise specified; a range may be interpreted to be composed of a plurality of subranges defined by a smaller endpoint, a smaller quartile, a median, a greater quartile, and a greater endpoint, except otherwise specified.

The so-called “ultra-low speed pulsation (ULSP) mode” of the present invention is also called “burst control mode”, and both of the two terms may be used in the present specification to refer a specific mode to be enabled when a vehicle speed V is lower than a vehicle speed lower limit VL.

is a block diagram of the uniform spreading control systemaccording to one embodiment of the present invention.

The uniform spreading control systemcan be equipped in or attached to a vehicle (not shown), which may be a truck, a tractor, a trailer, a train, a car, and so on, but not limited thereto. A material tank (not shown), a material transferring device, and a material spreading deviceare arranged on the vehicle, they may be either integrated or separate parts of the vehicle. A material to be spread will be transferred from the material tank via the material transferring deviceto the material spreading device. The material to be spread may be in form of powder, granule, liquid, colloid, semi-solid, and so on, but not limited thereto.

As shown in, the uniform spreading control systemincludes a control module. The control moduleincludes a basic controllerand a uniform spreading controller. The control moduleor the uniform spreading controllercan perform an average algorithm. The basic controller, the uniform spreading controller, and the average algorithm are illustrated as three separate blocks only for convenience of comprehension, but they may be implemented in any suitable form. For example, the uniform spreading controllermay be incorporated into the basic controller, and configured to access the average algorithm saved in the control module. Alternatively, the average algorithm may be saved in and accessed by the uniform spreading controller, separated from the basic controller. Further alternatively, the basic controller, the uniform spreading controller, and the average algorithm may be combined into a single component.

The controller modulemay be implemented as a microprocessor (μP), a microcontroller unit (MCU), an application specific processor (ASP), and so on, but not limited thereto. The basic controllermay provide basic functions, such as by a processor unit, a power supply unit, a memory unit, an input and output interface, a communications interface, and so on, but not limited thereto, and their details are omitted here.

The control moduleis connected to a vehicle speed detector, the material transferring device, and the material spreading device. It should be understood that, the main part of the uniform spreading control systemis the control module, while, the material transferring deviceand the material spreading devicemay or may not be deemed as parts of the uniform spreading control systemsince they are merely parts on the vehicle and to be controlled.

The vehicle speed detectormay include an acceleration detector (G-sensor), a mechanical tachometer, and/or an on-board diagnostic (OBD). These components are used to obtain the vehicle speed V, and their types and mechanisms are well-known, so their details are omitted here. The vehicle speed V is used for the uniform spreading controllerof the control moduleto determine whether to enable the ultra-low speed pulsation mode of the present invention.